Men said to be part of a fuel theft gang which targeted sleeping truckers on the A55 have been locked up.

A driver preparing to sleep in his cab on Sunday night was woken by a man siphoning diesel from his truck in a lay-by at Dobshill, Flintshire magistrates’ court heard.

The driver raised the alarm as they made off in a vehicle.

When their van was stopped, police found a large number of fuel containers and a siphoning tool.

All five occupants were arrested and three were jailed today after they admitted the theft of diesel.

Anthony McDonagh, 38, Patrick Doyle, 23, and Jason Doyle, 38, all of no fixed abode but who were said to have come from Ireland and parked their caravans in the Ellesemere Port area intending to do gardening work, each received six-week prison sentences.

Deputy District Judge Timothy Gasgoyne also banned all three from driving for 12 months.

The judge dismissed their explanations that it had been opportunistic as not being credible.